House Passes Emergency Legislation to Fix $1.6 Billion Budget Gap

on
Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Springfield… The
Illinois House passed legislation today to fix the $1.6 billion gap in the
current FY15 budget. State Representative Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) issued a
statement following the passage of this emergency legislation…

“Today was a tough vote, but it was also a necessary vote to
prevent further harm. If immediate action was not taken, the State would have
been unable to make payroll at our prisons; low-income working families would
lose their child care assistance, court reporters would be laid off, and money
for services for the mentally ill and the developmentally disabled would have
expired."

"In addition, inaction would have further delayed and perhaps
jeopardized critical categorical school funding. While education takes a minor funding reduction,
the Governor will have discretionary funds available to ease the burden on
schools that can least afford these cuts."

"In doing so, the Governor is not without precedent, and
given our faith in Governor Rauner and his commitment to holding the line on
spending, we believe this is the right thing to do.”